Effie Irene Vansant

Irene Vansant (Hagewood/Tilton) was born February 9, 1923, in Clarksville, TN to Burges and Annie Shivers. She grew up in Clarksville, became a nurse during World War II and worked at Clarksville Hospital. In 1942, she married James W. Hagewood. They were married for 29 years before his death in 1972. They had two children: Billy Wayne and Nancy Sue. They moved to Miami, FL in May, 1948 where her husband worked as a mechanic and Irene worked as a preschool teacher at the First Baptist Church of Perrine (now Christ Fellowship) for 12 years.

After her first husband's death in 1972, Irene would later marry Victor Tilton in 1974. However, after only five years of marriage, her second husband also died of a terminal illness. Irene lived for a number of years as a widow and continued her work as a preschool teacher until the mid 80's. Through the years after becoming a Christian at a young age, she loved to study the Bible and go to church. While living in Miami, she loved being an active member of the First Baptist Church of Perrine where she taught a primary Sunday School class for a number of years. Wherever she lived, she always liked being involved in a local Baptist church. Also, she enjoyed being the neighborhood Mom who provided Kool-aid and cookies for all the kids near by who came to play with Billy and Sue. Her other points of interests included: cooking, sewing, fishing with family and friends, gardening, enjoying the outdoors, pets, social events, but most of all having time with her family and close friends.

In 1988, Irene got a surprising call from a long time friend and former pastor who had lost his wife and wanted to remarry. Irene married Dr. Alfred C. Vansant that year and they enjoyed 8 years together before he too went to be with The Lord. In 2002, Irene moved to Orlando to be closer to family and is where she resided until The Lord called her home on April 6, 2013. Irene will be greatly missed by all who knew her and especially her family. She leaves behind: a son, Dr. Billy Wayne Hagewood (Donna), a daughter, Nancy Sue Harden (Johnny), five grandchildren: Stephen Hagewood (Jennifer), Andrew Hagewood (Keme), Wesley Harden (Karen), Colin Harden (Angie), Summer Harden, eleven great grandchildren: Shane, Savannah, Seth, Shawn, Leila, and Lana Hagewood, and Hannah, Riley, Colin II, Blake, and Rhys Harden, four sisters, Valinda Enos (Tom), Margie Polk, Estelle Kendrick, Nancy Sapp and a brother, Bobby Hook (Barbara) and a host of other relatives and friends. She is preceded in death by a brother, Floyd Arnold Hook and a sister, Linda Birchfield.